Where does this USMNT rank among great World Cup hairstyles? - ESPN

SEATTLE — Before the biggest game in U.S. men's national team history Monday, let's spend a few moments considering a critical, nuanced and complex question:

Is this the best hair the USMNT has ever had at a World Cup?

Much like Christian Pulisic's tapered modern mullet, it is an issue with layers. The best-coiffed team in American lore needs a combination of creativity, striking standout looks and true depth. No one-man shows allowed.

This U.S. group makes a strong argument. From Weston McKennie's red-white-and-blue dye patch to Folarin Balogun's tight curls, Tim Ream's man bun to Chris Richards' afro, Antonee Robinson's bleached locks to Matt Freese's near mohawk fade, there is no denying that this team's follicular field tilt is substantial.

Is it the best though? Opinions vary.

«I might be biased, but hell no,» said Tony Meola, who in addition to playing on the 1990, 1994 and 2002 U.S. World Cup teams is also the proud son of a New Jersey barber.

Meola pointed to the 1994 U.S. team, which included Alexi Lalas's untamed red mane, Marcelo Balboa's «long flow,» as Meola put it, Cobi Jones's dreadlocks and Meola's own slicked back ponytail, which was so popular among fans that the goalkeeper ultimately had to cut it after the tournament because, he said, «too many people were coming up to me asking if they could touch it.»

«My thing is that the current team, a lot of their hairstyles — which are great — would be considered normal or you'd see on other people,» Meola said. «Back in the '90s, we were different than everyone else. The hair was a big part of our identity in a way that it isn't for these guys.»

It is a fair point: Clint Mathis' intense mohawk at the 2002 World Cup, for example, was very much an outlier of its